Morbid Podcast: "The Kidnapping of J. Paul Getty III" (October 20, 2025)

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the infamous kidnapping of J. Paul Getty III, grandson of one of the world’s richest men. Amidst their signature blend of humor and macabre fascination, Ash and Alaina unpack the twisted family history that set the stage for this shocking, almost unbelievable crime, focusing on the emotional coldness and dysfunction that ripples through generations of the Getty family. The hosts break down not only the crime itself but the psychological and emotional traumas that underpinned it, centering on themes of neglect, greed, generational trauma, and the consequences of fortune without warmth.

Main Discussion and Key Insights

Getting Into the Gettys: Intergenerational Dysfunction

• [14:17] Elena: The story begins not with the crime, but with the Getty family legacy, tracing the cold, frugal, and deeply religious upbringing of Jean Paul Getty I.
  • Quote: "You need to see where this, this whole indifference towards your child or grandchild being kidnapped comes from." – Elena [14:17]
• Jean Paul Getty I was shaped by strict Methodism, severe emotional withholding after a child's early death, and a focus on self-reliance that bordered on pathological.
  • Quote: "He was never cuddled, nor did he have a birthday party or a Christmas tree." – Elena, recalling John Pearson's biography [18:53]
• This detachment trickled down: Paul Getty II becomes both willful and emotionally stunted, unable to form strong connections and leaning into material pursuits.

J. Paul Getty Sr.: Riches, Misery, and Emotional Withholding

• From five marriages and many children, Getty Sr. was known for his womanizing, abusive relationships, and perpetual distance from his offspring.
  • Quote: "He had an interest in younger women and... lost interest in them after a couple years at most because they got older— even more unfortunately, he lost interest in his kids very quickly. That's fucked up." – Elena [25:12]
• His reactions to family need were notoriously cruel, as told in the story of his response to his son Timothy’s illness and death:
  • Quote: “He sent his condolences, but did not attend his child's funeral.” – Elena [32:05]
  • Quote: "Sent his condolences is crazy." – Ash [32:18]
• Getty Sr. saw his wealth as proof of divine favor and distanced himself from all but the most advantageous family relationships.

Pre-Kidnapping: Generational Decline and Instability

• Getty Sr. eventually severs ties with most of his family, rotating his heirs in and out of his will, judging harshly, and living in isolation.
• The hosts describe the family’s public image as glamorous and enviable, though underneath lies immense emotional neglect and trauma.

The Kidnapping (July 1973): Misdirection and Mother’s Ordeal

• J. Paul Getty III, the troubled, barely-teenaged grandson, is snatched off the street by the ‘Ndrangheta, a notorious Italian crime syndicate that sees only money and ignores the family’s deep dysfunction.
  • Quote: "They just naturally assumed the family would be eager to get him back and would pay the sum... They had no idea about the dysfunction and incredibly poor interpersonal dynamics of the Getty family." – Elena [50:52]
• Gail, Paul III’s mother, immediately encounters resistance: her ex-husband is estranged from the money-holder father, and the grandfather refuses to return her calls.
  • Her helplessness and the callousness of the Italian police are highlighted:
    • Quote: "I felt utterly alone and I had to figure out what in God's name I should do." – Gail (via Elena) [46:27]

Getty Sr.'s Cruel Refusal and Public Stance

• The kidnappers demand $17 million ($124 million in 2025 dollars).
• The grandfather flatly refuses to pay, speaking only to the press:
  • Quote: “I have 14 grandchildren and if I pay a penny of ransom, I'll have 14 kidnapped grandchildren." – Getty Sr. (quoted by Elena) [53:33]
• The hosts respond with horror and dark humor:
  • "You have one grandchild who is kidnapped currently. I need to save that child." – Elena [54:15]
  • “That's a wall I don't think I've ever seen in person.” – Ash [54:30]

Escalation: Violence and Desperation

• After months with no progress, the kidnappers cut off Paul III’s right ear and mail it to the family and the press, accompanying it with photos and threats.
  • Quote: “They sliced his right ear off... and then he just passed out from the pain.” – Elena [63:24]
  • “This is Paul's first ear. If within 10 days, the family still believes that this is a joke... then the other ear will arrive. In other words, he will arrive in little bits.” – Elena, reading the kidnappers' note [65:28]
• The family finally scrapes together reduced ransom funds; Getty Sr. only agrees to LOAN half—at 4% interest!—leaving the rest to be raised by the mother and father.
  • Quote: "To not even all of it at 4% interest. What a... What a... Somebody should [do something] to this man. He's a... a piece of... This man is a loan shark." – Ash and Elena [68:19]
  • They riff about "butthole change," darkly joking about the comparative worthlessness of the sum to Getty Sr.

Aftermath and Lasting Trauma

• Paul III is released, physically and emotionally scarred, and calls to thank his grandfather only to be refused:
  • Quote: "He had no desire to come to the phone." – Elena [75:35]
• The hosts question the grandfather’s humanity and mental health with characteristic bluntness:
  • "This man is a sociopath." – Ash [77:11]
• The family fractures irreparably. Paul III struggles with addiction, suffers a stroke due to substance misuse, and dies in 2011. His grandfather dies in 1976, leaving his son $500 and Paul III nothing.
• Gail, Paul III’s mother, is repeatedly celebrated throughout the episode as the only family member to fight for her son.
  • Quote: "Gail forever. Truly—Gail. That lady is a good mom. She was a good wife. She’s a good person." – Elena [83:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Getty Sr.'s coldness:
  "He just naturally assumed the family would be eager to get him back… They had no idea about the dysfunction and incredibly poor interpersonal dynamics of the Getty family." – Elena [50:52]
• On the ear being cut off:
  "Stop saying that. I hate it." – Ash [63:28]
• On the ransom loan:
  "What a... Somebody should... in the face. Like, he's a... a piece of... This man is a loan shark." – Elena and Ash [68:19]
• On generational trauma:
  "If he had been led in that direction, I think he could have actually succeeded and had a much better life than his family members did… It's like generational trauma nose dive." – Elena [83:58]
• On summarizing the horror:
  "That's a story." – Ash [85:00]
• Comic relief/banter:
  Running jokes about “butthole change” as a metaphor for the ransom’s insignificance to Getty Sr. [69:24–70:14].

Timeline of Key Moments

• [14:17] - The Getty family’s origins and psychological foundation are established.
• [24:48]–[32:05] - Getty Sr.'s marriages, relationships, abusive behaviors, and emotional indifference unpacked.
• [39:52] - Ndrangheta’s history and their targeting of Paul III described.
• [42:19]–[44:45] - The kidnapping itself and Gail’s first contact with the kidnappers.
• [53:33] - Getty Sr.'s infamous refusal to pay the ransom is quoted.
• [63:13] - The kidnappers' mailing of Paul III's ear; escalation of violence.
• [68:17–69:26] - Getty Sr. finally "loans" ransom money, outrage and dark humor from the hosts.
• [74:26–75:35] - Paul III's rescue, the grandfather's continued rejection.
• [78:10–79:33] - The aftermath of the ordeal, lasting trauma, and deaths.
• [83:12] - Tribute to Gail, the show's moral core.
• [85:00] - The episode draws to a close with a mix of reflection and signature banter.

Tone & Approach

As always, Ash and Alaina balance deep research and empathy with levity, using dark humor to process the disturbing saga. They’re unsparing in their condemnation of Getty Sr.’s monstrous selfishness, but also consistently empathize with victims like Paul III and especially Gail. Their banter, running inside jokes, and asides (about "beating your grandpa's ass," "butthole change," and Laguna Beach) provide comic relief without trivializing the gravity of the story.

Takeaways for New Listeners

• The Getty kidnapping story is as much a tale of emotional bankruptcy and familial neglect as it is a crime story.
• The hosts' blend of humor and horror enhances, rather than distracts from, the gravity and astonishment of the events.
• Gail emerges as the episode’s hero—a rare light in a world warped by cold fortune.
• If you’re new to Morbid, expect in-depth storytelling, personality-forward narration, and a fun but fiercely empathetic tone.

Recommended Viewing:
Ash and Alaina repeatedly recommend the film All the Money in the World for a dramatized companion to the story.

Final moral?
If you have a good grandparent, hug them. And don’t beat your grandpa’s ass. Unless he’s J. Paul Getty Sr.—just kidding (sort of)!